Hey all.
WOW Mid September, has crept upon me so fast. This actually means that its only about 5 weeks until I will be making the long (most likely 3-4 day) journey back to Australia. This is the first time in 2 years that I will get to re unite with each of you. I want to be able to share in your lives and through this to catch up with you all.
I will be back for about 3-4 months maybe 5 months at most.
My decision for coming back for this amount of time has been based on several different things. These include.
* The obvious of seeing family and friends and catching up in your lives.
* I will be completing another practicum (0-2 years) for 4 weeks from the 9th November.
* Removal of wisdom teeth.
* Support raising through churches, youth groups, women's groups, kids groups I am totally open to this. And there are
*Weddings and people bringing new life into the world.
These are the main reasons though the biggest is that it has now been 2 years since I was last standing on Australian ground, walking the beaches and living life there.
Right now in all honesty my mind is feeling somewhat burdened. Though I know to cast all of my cares on the one who cares for me, I am still feeling an un certain about my finances. This is not me saying that my time is over, but I know that God is using me in this time yet again to stretch and grow me more into his image.
I wanted to share just a little bit about the cost prior to arriving as to what it actually costs to live here. I want to do just a small break down in what some of the areas are. I have and continue to live a very simple and low budget life, but as I sit here I think about the cost that it actually takes to live here in Africa. My total cost of living without including car repairs which is an added cost is $445 Australian dollars per month. Below I have included the costs of my living into Australian dollars.
Costs broken down
Rent per month- $249.99
Internet per month- $55.00
Petrol per month- $60.00
Food per week- $25.00
Personal per month eg: Outing expenses, birthdays etc- $50.00
Car repairs every 2 months- May vary from month to month as my car is very old... and often needs several repairs each time it is checked. This can very from $200- 500 depending on what is going on with it.
One off times for university books per semester- Anywhere from $40.00- $80.00
I would ask that you continue to join with me in prayer and would really need to say a huge thank you to each of you who currently support me. It is through each of you that I am able to stay here to do the work that the lord is calling me to. Again words of thank you really just are not enough, but knowing that because you have blessed me, each of you will be blessed by this.
I place this into my blog update to you all, not for pity or for any other reasons than to ensure that I am being accountable to each of you.
I know that the lord has and is using me in all situations to know and understand what it is like to live with plenty and what it is like to live with little. He is such a good good God and I know that he will provide my every need.
A huge testimony of this was my time in America. The lord provided for my ticket, accommodation and living while there. I didn't have to pay. What a blessing this was. I am so thankful that the lord hears and understands my every need. In fact its not just my every need that he hears but each one of you reading he hears and knows our hearts desire and cry.
As I sit here with no power 9% on my computer battery, and 6% on my phone I have the song playing be my vision playing. He truly is my wisdom my strength and my support in every situation. Where nothing is to great for him. What a peace to rely back on.
Oh the lord is good even when we have no power!!!!
You may now be wondering why my blog this time round is named language. I am of late reminded of the multi languages that I come into counter with on a daily basis. In one day it is not uncommon for me to hear New Zealand language, Kiswahili, Ki Masai and well at times when other Australians are around I get to hear the OZ accent.
Just last week I took our house Mama who is expecting a baby to the clinic. Along the way I asked her husband to teach me Ki Masai, and my what a joy filled time this was as they tried to teach me this new language (New as in I don't know how to speak it but have heard it many times).
Language is such a powerful way of communicating, and I am just again amazed at how we hear it, speak it and show love through it.
I truly do love being in a place that shares so many languages, what a joy, at times this brings. At times it may be the hilarity of not knowing how to pronounce the word or saying it out of context or incorrect, but this is what brings us together, in community in so many ways. On days at school I am often finding myself speaking in Ki Swahili as well as English in order to make my point or ask my question to the children, and often in fact very often the kids will look at me with a blank look. Why I think, then I stop and remember that they cant understand some of what I am saying... Back we go to a more simple way of communication.
I love that the home group which I am in, had several Masai guys in a conference join us to sing and pray together before separating. We sang in Ki Masai and then in English. What joy it must bring to our kings face when he sees that we can relate to each other through language that is not our own....
Over the next 5 weeks I will be preparing my 3000 word assignment for university, which will then take me down to 6 modules. WAHOO this is cause for celebration as I can see the end of the tunnel. I will continue to teach my small groups in preschool 1 and 2 this term. In preschool 1 (3-4 years) I am working individually with the children. This has been so encouraging to see them grow and understand English and Swahili. There are 5 children in this class that I am working with. I will name the children at the bottom and would ask that you join with me in prayer for these children as they continue to grow and understand all that they can while in school.
In preschool 2 (5-6 years) I am working with 8 children, 3 out of the 8 children I am working with on an individual level while the other 5 are in small groups.
The children are as per follows.
Preschool class 1.
Jeremiah
Quils
Anton
Evenlight
Sianna
Preschool class 2
Christian
Lydia
Elisashama
Lisa
Pray
Sayuni
Abedbego
As my computer has dwindled down to 5% I am now going to call this one finished, I would totally love to hear from each of you and am always blessed when I do. Please dont underestimate this in anyway, as its always such an encouragement to hear about your lives.
Many blessings to each of you. Until I see you so very soon in OZ.
Wednesday 23 September 2015
Thursday 3 September 2015
Time to return.
Hello everyone.
Again its been far and few times that I have blogged and posted, but now that I sit here back in Tanzania (without power) I have sometime to stop and reflect clearly on the last 7 weeks (My time in America).
WOW did 7 weeks fly by so fast. I felt like I blinked and the time was over and I was ready to board the plane back to Tanzania.
My 7 weeks were a time of growth, development and learning above all. 5 of my weeks spent in the States (Billings Montana) were to complete my 5 week 3-5 year old practicum, a requirement of the university.
What a blessing it was, to take an opportunity paid for to see the way another early childhood centre operates.
I was based in a semi rural centre, that has been owned and operated for over 20 years. The new director is the daughter in law of the prior owners. This gave me a feeling of community. Many of the families have had many generations come to the centre.
I had a group of 10 children per day that I was working with directly. I followed their interests and from there implemented a project for the last 3 weeks of the practicum.
I loved being able to extend, grow and challenge these children, and as I did this I was able to see them going deeper in thinking. This was a goal that I had set for myself for the children as part of my planning. It took only a few days, and could see each day a new excitement of the way the children discovered, grew, learnt and eventually challenged each other in their own ideas. I truly felt and could see the provision of the lord upon each and every step that I was able to take, as he guided me and directed me in the ways and approaches in which I needed to take.
Within my teaching practicum I felt the lord teaching me, reminding me of his great love, not just his love for me, but the love that he has for these children, many of whom don't know him. Some of their home situations were just heart breaking as I discovered more about some of the children's family situations.
As I reflect I can truly see that he wanted me in this situation to show and be love. This part was a blessing as these little children over time began to trust me. Relationships were built. I truly see that the lord was teaching me, as he always is. This time it I felt him showing me more of his wisdom, his ways and his ideas. I had to stop often and remind myself that he is the one who has guided me across the other side of the world and that I need to obey his plan for my life. This took at times stopping and giving it back (actually this was more times than not), there were things I had to say Ok lord I dont get this, or I dont agree with that, but YOU God are the one who put me here. This gave me a true peace as I embraced and went head into the work that was required of me.
In the 7 weeks spent in the States I was also caring for my friend Beth's little girl Abby. She is 4 years of age and lives half of the time in America and the other half in Africa (Where I met them originally). Abby is such a delight. I had the joy of learning from her too. This was so clear as one day I was needing to get somewhere and Abby without any flinch just says "Lets just pray", to which she lead the prayer in such a simple manner.
This stopped me several times in my track as this 4 year old was able to articulate the simple words and as she displayed the simple faith to believe. I needed to see this, and each time I did I thought WOW how much do I complicate my thoughts when at times it can be just so simple. The faith of a child is one truly not to be ever under estimated. Children often show us more through their faith at the perfect moments which is so refreshing.
I was so blessed in that this time being in America it was not winter time but summer. I loved this, swimming, running cycling and lots of trips to the park were had. I was able to see a little more of Montana in the summer and was blessed with each fun experience had.
My time came to a fast end, and through all of this I had to change my flights back to Tanzania. This is due to the new rules from Kenya.
After many phone calls to the airline and being put on hold all day, they finally said to me that they would not charge me in the change of flights to Kilimanjaro. This was and is a MIRACLE. The thought of having to pay an extra $500 was over whelming. But again GOD was and is the one who knew, he just gave me a peace about it all. That true peace that passes all understanding.
So now I am back in sunny, hot and dry Arusha where I have returned to no power again. (Rations are occurring more and more. Though to my surprise it came back on just now).
I was thankful for hot running water with pressured showers and power all of the time, but must say I am pleased to be back in Arusha with the surprises and power cuts.
So while I have the power I shall go to do all those fun things like washing and charging of electric devices.
Blessings until next time.
Again its been far and few times that I have blogged and posted, but now that I sit here back in Tanzania (without power) I have sometime to stop and reflect clearly on the last 7 weeks (My time in America).
WOW did 7 weeks fly by so fast. I felt like I blinked and the time was over and I was ready to board the plane back to Tanzania.
My 7 weeks were a time of growth, development and learning above all. 5 of my weeks spent in the States (Billings Montana) were to complete my 5 week 3-5 year old practicum, a requirement of the university.
What a blessing it was, to take an opportunity paid for to see the way another early childhood centre operates.
I was based in a semi rural centre, that has been owned and operated for over 20 years. The new director is the daughter in law of the prior owners. This gave me a feeling of community. Many of the families have had many generations come to the centre.
I had a group of 10 children per day that I was working with directly. I followed their interests and from there implemented a project for the last 3 weeks of the practicum.
I loved being able to extend, grow and challenge these children, and as I did this I was able to see them going deeper in thinking. This was a goal that I had set for myself for the children as part of my planning. It took only a few days, and could see each day a new excitement of the way the children discovered, grew, learnt and eventually challenged each other in their own ideas. I truly felt and could see the provision of the lord upon each and every step that I was able to take, as he guided me and directed me in the ways and approaches in which I needed to take.
Within my teaching practicum I felt the lord teaching me, reminding me of his great love, not just his love for me, but the love that he has for these children, many of whom don't know him. Some of their home situations were just heart breaking as I discovered more about some of the children's family situations.
As I reflect I can truly see that he wanted me in this situation to show and be love. This part was a blessing as these little children over time began to trust me. Relationships were built. I truly see that the lord was teaching me, as he always is. This time it I felt him showing me more of his wisdom, his ways and his ideas. I had to stop often and remind myself that he is the one who has guided me across the other side of the world and that I need to obey his plan for my life. This took at times stopping and giving it back (actually this was more times than not), there were things I had to say Ok lord I dont get this, or I dont agree with that, but YOU God are the one who put me here. This gave me a true peace as I embraced and went head into the work that was required of me.
In the 7 weeks spent in the States I was also caring for my friend Beth's little girl Abby. She is 4 years of age and lives half of the time in America and the other half in Africa (Where I met them originally). Abby is such a delight. I had the joy of learning from her too. This was so clear as one day I was needing to get somewhere and Abby without any flinch just says "Lets just pray", to which she lead the prayer in such a simple manner.
This stopped me several times in my track as this 4 year old was able to articulate the simple words and as she displayed the simple faith to believe. I needed to see this, and each time I did I thought WOW how much do I complicate my thoughts when at times it can be just so simple. The faith of a child is one truly not to be ever under estimated. Children often show us more through their faith at the perfect moments which is so refreshing.
I was so blessed in that this time being in America it was not winter time but summer. I loved this, swimming, running cycling and lots of trips to the park were had. I was able to see a little more of Montana in the summer and was blessed with each fun experience had.
My time came to a fast end, and through all of this I had to change my flights back to Tanzania. This is due to the new rules from Kenya.
After many phone calls to the airline and being put on hold all day, they finally said to me that they would not charge me in the change of flights to Kilimanjaro. This was and is a MIRACLE. The thought of having to pay an extra $500 was over whelming. But again GOD was and is the one who knew, he just gave me a peace about it all. That true peace that passes all understanding.
So now I am back in sunny, hot and dry Arusha where I have returned to no power again. (Rations are occurring more and more. Though to my surprise it came back on just now).
I was thankful for hot running water with pressured showers and power all of the time, but must say I am pleased to be back in Arusha with the surprises and power cuts.
So while I have the power I shall go to do all those fun things like washing and charging of electric devices.
Blessings until next time.
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